The next bunch are from back over break. So a friend of my moms is from Florida, that lady’s best friends daughter has a friend that wanted to look at transfering to colleges in LA, so obviously they gave me a call to show them around.

We went to more place in LA in 3 days that I have done in years.

Magnolia in Hollywood, Red White and Bluezz, Lucky Baldwins, USC, some little theater, In-N-Out, Mijares, The Getty, The Fahey-Klein Gallery, sitting next to Seth Green at a small cafe, a tour of celebrity homes, Santa Monica beach, Pek’s house, The Ice House, and Margarita Jones.

here are some frames.

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the smirk.

It was great to take the ladies to the gallery, because I had never even been there before. Thanks j.

Shaun life, in his father’s terms, was supposed to be perfect because their life was financially secure.

But, from watching the movie, it was pretty obvious that everything was not peachy in Orange County.

His older brother was an unkempt, portly doofus, his mother a drunk who married an invalid to have money, his girlfriend a PETA animal freak, his father a snippy hollywood douche, his best friends were bro-bros, and he had a man crush on Kevin Kline.
The point is, and this is what Shaun found out, that most of the time you only need to look around yourself to find inspiration. The situation that he knew, especially the people he lived around, were all needed. He didn’t need to go somewhere to find himself, Shaun just had to realize that inspiration has right there at home.

He hadn’t even sold out yet before he figured out a great lesson in life.

yet.

There is a pursuit.

in the attempt to find something,

it doesn’t even have to be tangible;

an idea perhaps, or a state of being, even a feeling, or an expression.

The ancient Greeks had the Muse.

Newton had the apple.

Picasso had the world he saw around him.

Hemingway had booze.

We all have hope.

It is what it is.

anyway. . .

I feel that bands trying to make it have much more incentive,

much more purpose,

a self-driven attitude to change their lives through music.

or at least experience something different.

but there is a point,

when a not just a band,

perhaps a group of collectivized individuals,

reaches a junction where motivational sources change.

and the results are obvious.

Incubus, Talib Kweli, the Beatles, Fatlip (crack), Elvis, The Get Up Kids, Atmosphere, Bob Dylan (when he became evangelized), Weezer (this one really hurts), Madonna (every 11.7 seconds), and many others I’m too incompetent to name. I wanted to consult Josh Pressman or Matt Craig on the subject, but I decided to go on alone.That’s why I only named mainstream groups/people.

It is the causes that are subject to debate.

From a fan’s perspective, and depending on the results, worst case scenario is the band’s new album sucks, but you can still rely on the old stuff, and they will play the good stuff half the time at a concert.

Well, that’s not always true.

A band can change so radically that you have to redefine your own personal definition of the band; what they stand for, who they are, what they sound like, and even if you like them anymore. And then the music changes for you.

Its rare, but that is how I feel about Weezer.

There will always be the perfection of the Blue Album but,

more than 10 years later, I feel cheated.

as a fan, Weezer and Incubus have failed me.

They failed to live up to my expectations, to deliver another epic album

so maybe the problem lies in my perceptions of musical artistry;

but I don’t buy that, there is a reason they call it potential in the first place.

I will always cherish the Blue Album, Morning View, and Make Yourself.

The perspective I have about bands not living up to potential in this case is subjective, but this is my blog and in the words of a famous Santa Barbarian, “I do what I want!!!!”- The Jory

So in hindsight, I on one hand have deep admiration and respect for these bands,

but are wrought with disappointment on the other.

Is it fame, money, mediocrity, “writer’s bloc,” or just plain indifference?

or all of the above, I don’t know, just wanted to bring it up.

“My Name” might be jonas, but I sure don’t look the same.

oh, and listen to Ice Cube:

“Gangsters don’t dance, we boogie”

and now some frames.

DC, in full effect.

Don’t ask the President to do long division on the spot.

Cheering the Commander in Chief. Heritage interns at the Memorial Ceremony.
Checking people in to the Victims of Communism Memorial Ceremony

Had to do the night time tour of the monuments. Which is a great idea, but on the night we decided to go, it was pouring rain. Still had a great time though.

Lincoln Memorial.

Hands down the best memorial in DC, just what it stands for, really gets ya. You can stand on the exact spot where MLK Jr, gave his “I have a dream” speech, and look out onto the mall. I just had to take a moment to reflect at that time. Pretty moving stuff.

I really have a love for that place.

Haven’t gone to the top of the Washington monument yet, but I will.

view from in front of the capitol, near General/President Grant’s Memorial.

We also went to the zoo, which by the way, was not as cool as LA zoo or San Diego’s. Even though they have Pandas.

The zoo was a sociological experiment, I have to say. Kids and couples.

I’m convinced that this is where South Park got the idea for the MonkeyFishFrog joke. (above)

Went to the Capitol for a tour this week. Apparently, the statue of Liberty would be able to fit inside of the rotunda and have room to spare. It was pretty cool to walk down the same halls as John Quincy Adams, Abraham Lincoln, Henry Clay, and many others. Also to stand in the spot where honored Americans have lain, like Rosa Parks and Ronald Reagan.

It’s just great to soak in all of the history of America, no better city than DC for that.

interns in route.

an MP4 and shorts? kinda sends mixed signals if you ask me.

just going for a run.

they take requests, and donations. When my girlfriend comes into town, I already know the song I want them to sing for her. got it covered.

At the Victims of Communism Memorial.

Miss Martone, a fellow Heritage intern on the blue line.

painted on the back of a truck displayed on The Mall.

at a reception for young leaders in DC, this is the famous Jay Eberle, esquire.

also at the young leaders conference. musta been something crazy.

On a funny note, I just saw the greatest dating website commercial.

There is a guy in front of a white background, and he’s reading a playboy, turning the pages, looking at the centerfold. after about 5 seconds he closes the magazine, looks at the camera and says “nope, still gay.”